Liverpool’s boss urges British teams to chase the Euro

Liverpool’s managing director, Colin Ayre, believes that it is important for English sides to be allowed to secure independent TV deals abroad so that they are not left behind by the top European clubs.

“The other European clubs just don’t follow that model. They will create much greater revenue to go and buy the best players”, he claims.

But several other clubs, including Manchester United and Chelsea, have distanced themselves from Liverpool’s proposal to break from the Premier League’s current model of collecting Television deals.

Manchester United’s chief Executive David Gill said: “The collective selling of the television rights has clearly been a success and it has made things more competitive [in the league].” A Chelsea spokesman also said, “We are supportive of the Premier League on this and want to continue with the way they sell [TV rights] collectively.”

It is understood that Arsenal, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur will continue to back the current model that last season awarded each club £17.9m.

It is thought that Liverpool had expected other clubs to back their stance, which Ayre argues would bring about a fairer distribution of funds than is currently the case. “Is it right that the international rights are shared equally between all the clubs? he asks. Isn’t it really about who people want to watch on that channel? We know it is us and others.

Overseas revenues could outstrip the domestic deal, currently worth £2.1bn over three years, for the first time when the Premier League launches its tender process next year.